In the past 20 years our understanding of how the climate works has improved significantly. That’s due in no small part to an international project known as SPARC, which coordinates research worldwide on the stratosphere.

SPARC has just relocated its coordination centre from Toronto in Canada to Zurich. World Radio Switzerland spoke to the scientists who have gathered in Zurich to celebrate the move and SPARC’s 20th anniversary.

Listen to World Radio Switzerland

The international project for atmospheric and climate research SPARC (Stratospheric Processes And their Role in Climate) relocated its coordination centre from Canada to Switzerland. On 7 February 2012, SPARC celebrates the inauguration of its new office at ETH Zurich and its 20th anniversary.

Former Co-chairs, Office directors and administrative staff including the WCRP Director Dr. Asrar celebrated SPARC’s 20th anniversary in Zurich.

Find Media Release.

Find 20-year anniversary brochure.

Being alerted by severe budget constraints that hit the Canadian ozone network, SPARC sent a letter to the Canadian Minister of Environment in September. In December, the SPARC Co-Chairs received a positive response.

Read SPARC’s response to the letter received from the Canadian Minister of Environment (21 December 2011).

Find related articles (21 September 2011).

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has published the December issue of the Antarctic Ozone Bulletin.

More

The Recipients of Prizes for the Best Posters and Papers Presented at the WCRP Open Science Conference

More information about the Recipients of Prizes see here

Priorities for Climate Observations, Research and Predictions High on Agenda

More information see here.

The Canadian ozone network is hit by budget constraints.

Read the full article published on 15 September in Nature.

Read SPARC’s open letter to the Canadian Minister of Environment (22 September 2012).

WCRP requested that SPARC not only focusses on stratospheric research but also on the troposphere.

A blog was set up to give the SPARC community the opportunity to take part in an open discussion about a possible name change for SPARC. Welcome to contribute!

NOTE: this blog was discontinued in June 2012. Find the results here.

Today, the international Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme published the first issue of this year’s Antarctic Ozone Bulletin.

Find the Antarctic Ozone Bulletin 1/2011.